Rationale for Parity
TDCJ Divisional Status
The Chaplaincy Profession is as great in complication and is supported by as esteemed a
group of schools, associations and world organizations as any other
profession: including the professions of medicine, education, psychology,
law, engineering, computer programming and their sub-disciplines.
Yet, by accident certainly, an incredible affront
to every seminary, church, synagogue, mosque and religiously sponsored
hospital, indeed, an affront to every person in Texas who values their religion
is this: within the minimum requirements, a HS/GED graduate, a 19 year old
teenager with 1 year of experience in computer programming can enter TDCJ at -2-
pay groups above an entry level chaplain and at the same pay group as a senior chaplain
(click Chaplains Speak for more).
We Chaplains are proud to serve the State, those in her custody and her
employees. We are proud of our alma maters and the education we
received at them. We consider our service to TDCJ an extraordinary and
rich place of service among some of Texas' finest employee/citizens in
one of the most challenging, interpersonally hostile and dangerous
places on earth--the penitentiary. Extraordinary because we relish
in the practice of our profession and cherish the times when heartfelt
help is delivered.
None of us think
our engineers, teachers or principals being paid anything outside the norm. We want
our teachers and engineers to make a decent wage for their qualifications and experience.
We worked as hard as they did to get educated, often under the auspices
of the same school. True Parity means restructuring and really funding the chaplaincy department in a degree commensurate with other TDCJ professions in terms of qualifications, realistic work needs and a honest career ladder. Yet it is increasingly clear that
nothing will happen without a radical change: it has not happened in 30 years despite great efforts
(Click History-Value of Correctional
Chaplaincy for more).
It
is and has been a given that the Chaplaincy Profession is an accepted
profession in major institutions in the U.S., including the
restricting environs of the military and the U.S. Legislature. The real
question: DO Texans value Religion in General and Religious Education and Experience?
Of course they do. TDCJ is a public institution in service to the
people of Texas with some of the finest employees in the nation. Yet, right now, in spite of "words" of valuing "faith-based programs,"
some of the
Actual Value is clearly seen
in the need to address parity for chaplains. That is why us
Chaplains are seeking parity, to serve Texas' interests by facilitating
the Religion and Religious Education as well as general pastoral care for
those within TDCJ and to have a modicum of economic freedom comparable to those in the other
professions. We have families we love too.
Indeed,
Parity for Chaplains is about the
Value of Faith ~ Value of Religion
Value of a Profession & Religious Education
This
is a bipartisan effort: write & vote to support those
legislatures who support Religion & Parity for Chaplains. What
is best about supporting Chaplains: it will only take a
relatively small amount of money to redress a good portion of inequity
and approach parity within TDCJ, which will in the long run provide an
exponential increase in pastoral care and availability.